Method and apparatus for straightening tubular elements

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for straightening tubular elements, such as crooked pipe, comprising an elongate frame upon which a pipe coupling apparatus is slidably disposed for longitudinal movement. Rotatably mounted to the frame and generally spaced from the coupling apparatus is a pipe deforming device for inducing a localized rotating bending moment into the pipe. The pipe deforming apparatus comprises opposed pipe engaging members which are mounted within a rotatable drum so that pipe coupling means longitudinally moves the pipe through the drum as the rotating drum imparts a localized bending moment into the pipe.

Horton [111 3,812,700 [451 May 2 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING TUBULAR ELEMENTS [76] Inventor: Herbert D. Horton, Mayhill, N.

Mex. 88339 [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 2'11 Appl. No.: 325,686

[52] US. Cl 72/79, 72/98, 140/147 [51] Int. Cl B2ld 3/06 [58] Field of Search 72/79, 98; 140/147 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,550 4/1884 Agnew 72/79 352,705 11/1886 Medart 72/98 683,109 9/1901 Dutton 72/79 1,657,311 1/1928 Malone 72/79 2,369,329 2/1945 Wennerberg 72/79 3,672,197 6/1972 Popov et a1 72/79 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Marcus L. Bates 7] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for straightening tubular elements, such as crooked pipe, comprising an elongate frame upon which a pipe coupling apparatus is slidably disposed for longitudinal movement. Rotatably mounted to the frame and generally spaced from the coupling apparatus is a pipe deforming device for inducing a localized rotating bending moment into the pipe.

The pipe deforming apparatus comprises opposed pipe engaging members which are mounted within a rotatable drum so that pipe coupling means longitudinally moves the pipe through the drum as the rotating drum imparts a localized bending moment into the pipe. 1

6 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAYZWM 3.812.700

' SHEU10F3 0 v I j' a3 53 F PATENTEDIIAY 2a 1914 saw 2 0F. 3]

PATENTEDRAY 28 1914 SHEET 3 OF 3 l METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR, STRAIGHTENING TUBULAR ELEMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the oil patch, it'is common for tubular elements such as production pipe, sucker rod, and other tubularlike goods to becomecrooked, or bent, so as to render the tubular goods seemingly worthless for their intended purpose. For example, from time to time it is necessary to remove production pipe from a well borehole and for one reason or another, thousands of feet of the pipe are sometime inadvertently dropped to the bottom of the boreholeduring the removal operation. The pipe,upon hitting the bottom of the borehole, is suddenly arrested with tremendous impact, thereby corkscrewing'the entire length of pipe which heretofore has rendered the pipe useless for its original intended purpose, because the pipe has been permanently deformed.

The pipe must be removed from the borehole, stacked, and replaced with similar straight pipe. The bent pipe is difficult to transport because its spiraled configuration causes entanglement of one joint with another.

It is therefore desirable to be able to straighten the bent pipe so that itcan be immediately replaced in the same borehole from which it was removed, thereby avoiding. the purchase and transportation of replacement pipe. Moreover, it would be desirable to be able to straighten the bent-pipe'in the field and at the'well bore so as'to avoidthe time-consuming expensive task of loading the pipeonto a truck and having to transport the pipe to shop facilities where the pipe can be straightened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprehends apparatus for straightening elongate tubular elements comprising a longitudinally disposed main frame member upon which there is movably disposed'a'coupling apparatus adapted to be affixed to the end of a pipe to be straightened so that the pipe can be moved longitudinally of the main frame. I

A pipe deforming device is afiixed to the main frame in generally spaced relation to the coupling apparatus so that a localized bending moment can'be induced into the pipe as the coupling member longitudinally moves the pipe throughthe deforming device, thereby subjecting substantially the entire length of the pipe to the deforming operation.

The deforming device is comprised of a longitudinally disposed cylinder-which houses at least three.

spaced pipe engaging members with one of the pipe engaging members being oppositely disposed and centrally located relative to the remaining two pipe engaging members. As the cylinder rotates, means are provided for remote control of the relative position of the pipe engaging members to therebyv enable control of the magnitude of the rotating bending moment. Adjustment isprovided for controlling the marginal length of pipe which is subjected to the bending moment.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is the provision'of improvementsin the method and apparatus for straightening tubular elements such as pipe joints.

Another object of the invention to provide im provements in portable pipe straightening apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide means by which crooked pipe can be straightened by inducing localized bending moments along most of the length of the joint of pipe.

A still further object of this invention is to provide I means by which a rotating localized bending moment is induced into the pipe while the pipe is longitudinally moved through the apparatus, thereby forcing the pipe into alignment with its central axis.

These and variousother objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by referring to the accompanying drawings.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a combination of elements which are fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. Us a part diagrammatical, part schematical representation of apparatus which illustrates one means for carrying out themethods'of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is abroken elevational view which discloses one form of the invention for carrying out the method set forth in conjunction with FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, part crosssectional'representation of part of the apparatus disclosedin the embodiment of FIG. 2;

. FIG. 4 is a part 'cross-sectionaliview taken 'along'line 4-4ofFIG.3;f g

FIG. 5 is a crossgsectional view similar to the one taken alongline 5-5 of FIG. 3, with some additional parts being included therein inorder to betterillustrate the operational features of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an entary enlarged view which trates part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged representation of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively, are cross sectional views taken along lines 9-9 and 10-10, respectively, ofFlG.2;

FIG. ll'is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed representation which sets forth part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2; v

FIG. 12 is a broken side view which sets forth the details'of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 2, 7 and 11; j

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary reduced top view of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line l4.l4 ofFIG. 13; and Y FIG. 15 is enlarged part cross-sectional detail of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. '14. i

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Inthe diagrammatical, part schematical representation set forth in FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is ililluslustrated the method of the present invention, wherein.

. 3 the first or central pipe engaging member, preferably is provided with element which can be moved radially towards a longitudinal central axis of the pipe 21 to be straightened. Pipe 21 is affixed to a pipe coupling apparatus 22 which in turn is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement along a track means 23. Optionally provided at the remaining marginal end portion of the pipe is the illustrated pipe guide 24 for losely capturing a marginal end portion 21' of a pipe there: within. Drive shaft 25 is rotated by a prime mover 26 so that the, illustrated hydraulic pump 27 is provided with a source of power, while at the same time sprocket 28 can drive the indicated chain which in turn rotatably drives housing 16 about its central longitudinal axis. The last named axis coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the pipe 21, after the pipe has been straightened. 7

Looking now 'to'the details of FIG. 2, in conjunction with the remaining figures, the beforementioned pipe is seen to be removably affixed to the movable coupling member 22 with the central axis of the pipe being disposedalong the central longitudinal axis of the beforementioned housing 16.

Sprocket 31 .is circumferentially disposed about and affixed to the exterior of the housing andadapted to be engaged in meshed relationship by the beforementioned chain. Fixedspaced spiders 32, 33, 34, and35 are rigidily affixed to the main frame member and stand slightly free of the exterior peripheral surface of the rota'tirig housing, aswillbe-better appreciated later on in this disclosure. Each leg of each fixed spider is tied together. by a rugged polished rod 36, with a marginal intermediate portion ot' each rod being provided with a reinforcement web 37 so that a hydraulic cylinder 38 can be attached thereto in, the illustrated manner of FIG; 2, for example Piston 39 telescopingly depends from the cylinder and forces guide member 40 to move along a limited marginal length of the polish rod. Stated differently, the piston imparts horizontal movement into the guide member. I

Movable spider 41- has each of the three radial legs thereof affixed to each of the beforementioned-three guides so that when each of the three pistons 39 moves,

the movable spider must move therewith. As seen in the illustration of FIG. 10, the movable spider is provided-with a circular cutout 42,v with care being taken to leave a smooth circumferentially extending annular plate area to form what is hereinafter called a clutch plate. Bearing member 43 is mounted in the illustrated gimble and rides against the smooth annular portion of the clutch plate so'that the spaced legs 44 are caused'to be pivotedfabout the spaced journals 45. The journals are mounted to the housing so thata marginal intermediant portion of the arcuant arm 46 is moved into and. out of the elongated slot 47.

Looking. within the interior of the housing, the

Hydraulic motor 59 drives the pin'receiving box 60 v by means of shaft 60. Chain 61 drives shaft 62', which in turn drives chain 62, thereby enabling the hydraulic motor 59 to effect rotation of box 60. Framework 63, preferably made of the illustrated beefed-up' plate members, maintain the various members properly positioned relative to one another.

Each of the beforementioned spaced fixed plate members 32, 33, are fastened to one another by means of a pin 70 which supports rollers 71 thereon with the rollers supportingly engaging the outer peripheral wall surface of the housing in low friction relationship therewith. A plurality of rollers 72 are'interposed between plate member 32 and a vertical face of the sprocket 31 'so as to maintain the housing rotatably captured and longitudinally aligned respective of' the remainder of the main frame member. The rollers can take on any number of different forms, but preferably are comprised of an axially positioned member 70, about which thereis disposed in low friction relationship a roller 72,

with a pin 70 transferring its load by means of the spaced webs 73, 73'. v

I OPERATION y The present method is carried out by energizing prime mover 26, which in :turn rotatably drives the housing about is longitudinally extending central axis.

At the same time, hydraulic motor 27 provides a controlled source of power fluid for actuating the three radially spaced apart cylinders 38, as well as a power source for motors 54 and 59. Coupling apparatus 22 engages and makes up with-the pin of a pipe to be .straightened upon actuation of motor 59; Motor 54 moves the pipe centrally through the housing while the three spaced pipe engaging members bear thereagainst, thereby inducting the illustrated exaggerated localized bending moment seen illustrated'in F IG. 1 into the pipe as the first pipe contacting member 20 moves radially inward against the pipe. I

As the housing rotates about the pipe, coupling member 22 forces the pipe to travel along its longitudinally extending axis thereby ultimately subjecting substancurved member 46 is provided with a dovetail cavity 48 formed within a marginal'end portion thereof so that removable dovetail dies, 49 can be slidably placed therewithin. The dies may be locked'intoposition by any known. expedient.

twodies may beselectively positioned rela- I tially the entire length of pipe to the beforementioned bending moment.- Hence, the bending moment can be said to travel longitudinally of and radially about the pipe. I

When piston 39 is telescoped outwardly, guide member 40 reciprocates on the polished rod carrying the clutch plate therewith. The plate can therefore move longitudinally of the pipe, while being aligned normally therewith. The clutch plate moves roller bearing 43' which is ,set in a gimble so that a maximum contact area of the roller is always brought to bear against the clutch plate. The bearing forcescurved arm-40 to move the first or central pipe engaging member towards or away from the pipe, thereby enabling the hydraulic pressure effected at the cylinders 38 to be a measure of the conmaintains its straightness. In other words, the deformed sections of the pipe are returned to its initial straightened condition by the imposition of tension and compression stresses induced by the deforming device of the present invention. The localized bending moment tends to forcibly return an otherwise bent axis of the pipe into alignment with its normal central axis,

For enhancing the portability of the machine, where deemed desirable, the forward portion of the main frame can be folded as indicated by numeral 123. This expedient is accomplished by hinging the opposed sides 23 and making the channel 58 discontinuous in the hinged area.

The blocks preferably have a pipe contacting surface made of brass or other material which will not damage the exterior surface of the pipe. The pipe contacting 7 surface preferably is contoured to conform to the ra dius of the pipe.

Where deemed desirable, the motor 59 can be energized to cause the pipe to slowly rotate while being subjected to the localized bending moment, thereby avoiding imparting, any curve into the pipe as a result ofthe normal bend in the pipe because of its spaced supports.

1 claim:

along said main frame so that a pipe having one end portion attached to said coupling member and a marginal length thereof engaged with said first, second, and third pipe engaging members can be subjected to a rotating bending moment as the coupling member longitudinally moves at least part of the length of the tubular element through the housing to thereby subject most of the length of the pipe to the localized bending moment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means mounting said movable spider includes spaced polished rods, each having an end portion thereof affixed to said spaced fixed spiders;

a guide means slidably supported by said polished rods, said movable spider being affixed to and movable with said guide means, and;

means for moving said guide means along'said polished rod. v

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling means further includes means for rotating a pipe which may be connected to said coupling means.

1. Apparatus for straightening a bent pipe, or the i like, comprising a longitudinally disposed main frame member, coupling means for engaging the pipe, said coupling means being mounted for longitudinal movement along said main frame;

spaced axial aligned fixed spiders mounted to said frame member, a housing having a longitudinal axial center line, means rotatably mounting said housing within said fixed spiders with the axial center line of said housing being disposed parallel respective to said main frame;

an arm journaled in pivotal relationship to said housing and having a free end portion received within said housing, a first pipe engaging member mounted at the free end of said arm and positioned to engage a pipe when a pipe is located in said housing;

a movable spider, means mounting said movable spider for longitudinal movement relative to said main frame member; said movable spider having a cutout formed therein, said housing being received through said cutout, an annular face formed on said movable spider for engaging and moving said arm so that said pipe engaging member can engage a marginal length of a pipe when a pipe is positioned within the housing;

spaced second and third pipe engaging members mounted .to said housing, said second and third pipe engaging members being spaced from one another and radially spaced from said first pipe engaging member;

means rotating said housing about the axial center line thereof;

means moving said coupling means longitudinally 4. Method of straightening tubular elements, such a crooked'pipe and the like, comprisin'gthe steps of dis posing one of the ends of one of said tubular elements along a commonlongitudinal axis, rotatably mounting a housing about the central longitudinal axis thereof;

arranging the common longitudinal axis along the central longitudinal axis of the housing;

placing spaced first, second and third pipe engaging members within-said housing and adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular element to be straightened with said first pipe engaging member being'located intermediate and oppositely disposed respective to said second and third pipe engaging members, surrounding the housing with a clutch member; pivotally attaching an arm to thehousing and extending one end of the arm into engagement with said first pipe engaging member and extending another end of the arm into engagement with said clutch member, moving said clutch member longitudinally along said housing; jointly rotating said first, second and third pipe engaging members about said common longitudinal axis byrotating the housing while exerting sufficient pressure upon said pipe by radially moving said first pipe engaging member so that a localized bending moment-is induced into the pipe between the second and third pipe engaging member, thereby forcing the pipe into alignment with said axis;

longitudinally moving the tubular element relative to said housing and said first, second, and third pipe engaging members so that most of the entire length of the tubular element is subjected to the bending moment. I

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said second and third pipeengaging members are moved towards or away from one another so as to adjust the marginal length of the pipe which is subjected to the recited bending moment.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the tubular element is slowly rotated while being subjected to said localized bending moment. 

1. Apparatus for straightening a bent pipe, or the like, comprising a longitudinally disposed main frame member, coupling means for engaging the pipe, said coupling means being mounted for longitudinal movement along said main frame; spaced axial aligned fixed spiders mounted to said frame member, a housing having a longitudinal axial center line, means rotatably mounting said housing within said fixed spiders with the axial center line of said housing being disposed parallel respective to said mAin frame; an arm journaled in pivotal relationship to said housing and having a free end portion received within said housing, a first pipe engaging member mounted at the free end of said arm and positioned to engage a pipe when a pipe is located in said housing; a movable spider, means mounting said movable spider for longitudinal movement relative to said main frame member; said movable spider having a cutout formed therein, said housing being received through said cutout, an annular face formed on said movable spider for engaging and moving said arm so that said pipe engaging member can engage a marginal length of a pipe when a pipe is positioned within the housing; spaced second and third pipe engaging members mounted to said housing, said second and third pipe engaging members being spaced from one another and radially spaced from said first pipe engaging member; means rotating said housing about the axial center line thereof; means moving said coupling means longitudinally along said main frame so that a pipe having one end portion attached to said coupling member and a marginal length thereof engaged with said first, second, and third pipe engaging members can be subjected to a rotating bending moment as the coupling member longitudinally moves at least part of the length of the tubular element through the housing to thereby subject most of the length of the pipe to the localized bending moment.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means mounting said movable spider includes spaced polished rods, each having an end portion thereof affixed to said spaced fixed spiders; a guide means slidably supported by said polished rods, said movable spider being affixed to and movable with said guide means, and; means for moving said guide means along said polished rod.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling means further includes means for rotating a pipe which may be connected to said coupling means.
 4. Method of straightening tubular elements, such as crooked pipe and the like, comprising the steps of disposing one of the ends of one of said tubular elements along a common longitudinal axis, rotatably mounting a housing about the central longitudinal axis thereof; arranging the common longitudinal axis along the central longitudinal axis of the housing; placing spaced first, second and third pipe engaging members within said housing and adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular element to be straightened with said first pipe engaging member being located intermediate and oppositely disposed respective to said second and third pipe engaging members, surrounding the housing with a clutch member; pivotally attaching an arm to the housing and extending one end of the arm into engagement with said first pipe engaging member and extending another end of the arm into engagement with said clutch member, moving said clutch member longitudinally along said housing; jointly rotating said first, second and third pipe engaging members about said common longitudinal axis by rotating the housing while exerting sufficient pressure upon said pipe by radially moving said first pipe engaging member so that a localized bending moment is induced into the pipe between the second and third pipe engaging member, thereby forcing the pipe into alignment with said axis; longitudinally moving the tubular element relative to said housing and said first, second, and third pipe engaging members so that most of the entire length of the tubular element is subjected to the bending moment.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said second and third pipe engaging members are moved towards or away from one another so as to adjust the marginal length of the pipe which is subjected to the recited bending moment.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the tubular element is slowly rotated while being subjected to said localized bending moment. 